The Wall that Heals is a half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. It was escorted by the American Legion riders and the Patriot Guard Riders to the Fort Marcy Baseball Park in Santa Fe, New Mexico on March 18th. The schedule for the public:
11:00 a.m. March 20: Welcoming Ceremony
5:00 p.m. March 22: Reading of Names and Candlelight Vigil
11:00 a.m. March 23: Honoring Ceremony
Hosted by the Vietnam Veterans of America Northern New Mexico Chapter 996
Vietnam was such a catastrophic time for our country and for those who fought there. It's hard to think that over 58,000 US service people and several million Vietnamese died for nothing! Hopefully, this wall will at the least call attention to the futility of these kinds of actions. But then, we still went ahead in Iraq. Aargh.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great sense of humor, pray tell! :)
All those names Kate, all those young soldiers.. Each and every war is shocking beyond belief and yet it still goes on.
ReplyDeleteYou could have used this for your wordless Weds....Not much has to be said for the same sobering impact.
ReplyDeletehuge sigh...
ReplyDeleteour county has a 3/4 size replica of the wall here at our veteran's memorial. it is permanent. and quite moving.
The initial reaction ad criticism of the design of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, some of it from veterans representatives, was short sighted. The Wall has proven itself a brilliant design. It has withstood the test of time.
ReplyDeleteSadly, most everyone around my age knows someone who's name is on that wall.
ReplyDeleteI guess it heals. I'll let the Vets decide that one.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to see your blog and thank you for the kind comment. It is so right to remember history and to make the right conclusions.
ReplyDeleteI never could understand how Germans turned themselves into fascists, the whole country at once. But now in my country I see how the propaganda washes out human minds.
irina, Thank you for your comments. Your country isn't the only one that has been held sway by propaganda that affects the populace. We all need to remain vigilant!
DeleteVisiting the wall in Washington is an emotional experience, regardless of one's attitude about the Vietnam war. I wonder of the smaller replica evokes similar responses.
ReplyDeleteYes, Jack, because there were so many young people from New Mexico in the Vietnam War, there were lots of emotional episodes during the walls stay here this past week. Today I went down again with my husband and observed many momentoes left by family members. Saw many sage branches in front of panels with names that had some meaning for the people who left the notes, flowers, and other moments. Pretty emotional myself, knowing families who lost sons in this terrible conflict.
DeleteVery somber indeed, Kate.
ReplyDeleteImagine this drew quite a crowd. Today marks the 15th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Serbia.
ReplyDeleteThere's a similar wall in Lisbon with all the names of those who lost their lives in the Colonial War (1961-1974).
ReplyDeleteI cry just thinking of this wall and found it too painful to visit the original one in D.C.
ReplyDeleteThere is a replica of the wall in a neighboring town here. It was once one of the traveling walls. Pretty powerful to visit.
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